Yên
Ðức Sites can be found
outside the small village of Ðồn Sơn, Yên Ðức Commune, Ðông
Triều
District. Situated at a three-way
crossroads between Hải Dương, Quảng Ninh and Hải Phòng, the area
features original geography and a poetic landscape. There are five symbolic
mountains in the rolling chain: Canh Mountain (symbolizing the art
of ploughing fields); Ðồng Thóc Mountain (symbolizing prosperity);
Thung Mountain (symbolizing rice mortar); Con Chuột (Mouse) Mountain
(symbolizing the destruction of a paddy); and Con Mèo (Cat) Mountain
(symbolizing a cat lying in wait for a mouse). The site has been a source
of inspiration for poets of successive dynasties who have engraved
their works on Cat Mountain (1292 and 1937). On Thung Mountain,
there is also a temple dedicated to the eight founding fathers of
the hamlet, and the Cảnh Huống Pagoda devoted to Buddha. During the
resistance against the French colonialists, the Canh Mountain held a
cave where the Vietnamese army stored food, armaments and people. It
also served as a shelter during air attacks. Yên
Ðức festivities take
place annually on the 16th day of the first lunar month.
